repaired · 2021 Q1
Electrical system
Risk. A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
2019 BMW I3Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 13 owner complaints about the 2019 BMW I3, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 19V-599 the manufacturer reports only 97% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2019 BMW I3 has problems
13 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
6Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
4Steering
3Power train
2Engine
2Fuel/propulsion system
1Vehicle speed control
1Hybrid propulsion system
1Seat belts
1Service brakes
11 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 6 | 1 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 |
| Power train | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 |
| Hybrid propulsion system | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 |
| 1 other systems | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2019 BMW I3 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Best & worst years
2019 vs. every other I3 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the I3 median. How we score
'14'15'16'17'18'19'21
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2019 BMW I3, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
In owners' words
What I3 owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The car has lost power on the highway multiple times and gone into Limp mode with no warnings on the dashboard. The Rex engine has failed to start as well. Very dangerous on the highway going 20 mph trying to make the next exit. The car has been back to the BMW dealer multiple times (over 2.5…
We were sitting at a traffic light for a few minutes behind another vehicle. Suddenly, our car accelerated very quickly. My foot was on the brake when the car accelerated. I felt the brake pedal depress further as it accelerated. I initially thought a car had hit us from behind and propelled us…
The contact owns a 2019 BMW I3. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic on a bridge, the vehicle stalled, and independently shifted to park(P). The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The Police arrived on the scene and directed traffic around the vehicle…
Own a 2019 I3?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.